Machine for loading containers in a carton



March 31, 1959 R. L. lllLL 2,879,638

MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON Filed May 14, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l March 31, 1959 R. HILL 2,879,638

7 MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON Filed May 14, 1956 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. H/u.

R. L. HlLL MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 31, 1959 Filed May 14, 1956 March 31, 1959 MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON Filed May 14, 1956 L. HILL 2,879,638

6 Sheets-Shet 4 March 31, 1959 L. HILL MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1956 mmvm. ROBERT L. HILL March 31, 1959 R. L. HILL 2,879,638

MACHINE. FOR LOADING CONTAINERS IN A CARTON I Filed May 14, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 QSKW 358m 5 QSESOW bk m $332: wwwu A wok Q08? E. I

INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HILL mQQ.

mg I Q Q kmviw MW rsomok W\=,-\Q IN Q NW mg Ill: L NIQ m3 IQ I R i i i A. m m m MACHINE FOR LOADING CONTAINERS WARI Robert L. Hlll, ':Austin;Ind a ssignor to' :Morgan Packing Company,-Inc.,-Au'stin, Ind.,':.a:corporation of Indiana "Application May-14;1956,"ISerial No. 584,729.

Iilaims. (Cl..53166) is imrentionrelates toa machine for loading .contamerismaycmou 2,879,638 Pat entedMar. 31,- 1959 Fig. 7 is a schematic view in side elevation,.;-showing the :machineafter the acarton, has been placed over the bottles and the carton has .been partlydischarged-from the machine, the dischargeconveyor and carton-lowering mechanism being removed... Y Y

Fig. 8.is a.schematic.-. view in side elevation showing the machine with the carton discharged therefrom, the

A'njobj'ectioftheiii vfeiition is :6 provide a machine on which an mpty/pd on'isbrought down over the tops of containers 'to o'ad'the containers into the carton.

A further object of thi'sinvention" is to' provide a carton-loading machine which positions containers on a container-supporting structure .and spaces the containers so that a carton havingseparators or, spacers therein can be brought down over the cont ainer's. I i

further object ofmthis invention is to providea machine of this type inwhich containers on a feed conveyor are held backby stops while the-containers on I the containeres upporting, structure are. separated and the carton. is brotight;down over 'the containers.

A further 'objct .offthislinv ention is' to provide a machine. of' this' "type which tiirns the carton with the containers therein" to an-upright position, afterthe carton has been brought down over the containers so that the car'tongis discharged from'the machine with the open ndup. W .A

A' further objectcf. this invention is to provide a machine of this type in wliich' container-engaging members. are swung t'hroughf slots in the container-supporting structure and engagefthe"containers to hold the containers'inside thecartn while the carton is being turned. A further "object of this invention is 'to provide a machine of this type in which mechanism is provided for, automatically feeding I the containers. onto,v the conmiter-su porting structure whna carton is placed in a position above the containers preparatory. ,to lowering the carton onto the containers.

,11 6 a b e arid jotheiflobjectsj and features of the ina Figure lri's aviewiiifendelevation of a carton-loading v machine cons'tructedjin accordance with an embodiment of thisirivention'witha discharge conveyor and cartonlowering mechanism removed to show 7 construction details.

V Figure 2 is a pfragmentarylviewppartly in plan and partly. in section of the niachine parts of the machine being removedorjbrolien away to show detail'sof constructiori. a I

QFig. 3 'is a yiewgin slection of the machine taken on line HI-II I 'in" Fig. .2, showing the slides of the machine in retracted position. p Fig. 4 is a view injsection taken on the same line as Fig. 3, but showing the slides of the machine in extended position. I

Y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line VV in Fig. 4{ e Fig. 6 is a schematicviewin side elevation showing the machine with carton disposed .above bottles and ready tobe lowered" onto the bottles, the carton being partly broken away 'aud*in section-toreveal details of constructio'mtli'e discharge conveyor being removed.

carton catching armsaitdwaitdribeing shown in full lines in partly-lowered position:andin idot-dash lines. in fully loweredposition. .5: p.2 2: Fig. 9"is a fragmentary, perspective .view showiugqdm tails of construction of the slides. q

Fig. 10 is aview in'section takenon a line; X-. X-in a A 1 Fig. 11. is a schematic wiring diagram ofthe :machine. Fig. 12 is a schematic view in end elevation of the machine. p 1' i Inthe following detailed" description, and, the ,drawings; like referencecharacters indicate like parts. As shown in Figs. 1 and2, the machine includesxa frame 10 which includes upright posts 12, 13, and 514 and transverseframepmembers lfi and 17; The-frame member 17 supports upright frames 18 on which are mounted horizontal, stationary slide-supporting members orbars.19 (see Figs. 2 and 5); On top of the-members 19 are mounted rows of slide or cradle members 20, 21 and 22 which are shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 1,'there are five rows of slide or cradle members which receive four rows-:of bottles23. The slide or cradle. members move between a retracted position illustrated in Fig. 3 and an extended position shown in Fig. 4. Each of the slide or cradle members is provided witha flange whichunderlies a portion of the underside of one. of the bottles. Each bottle is supported by the flanges of two slideswith a space or slot being provided under the center of-each bottle as shown in Fig. 5.- W Y The bottles 23 reach the'slide members from afeed conveyor 26 and are driven across anentry table portion 27 onto the slides 20, 21;:and;.22 as indicated in Fig. 8. When the slides are filled, a carton 29is' placed against an uprightv guide-plate 30 in the positionshown in Fig. 6 with theopen end thereofdown. ..-The carton engages a switch operator 31. (Fig. 8) which initiates operation of the machine. When the switchoperator 31 is engaged, stop members 33 are raisedto halt the advance of bottles on the conveyor, ;and the. slides are moved to the extended .position illustrated inv Figs. 4 and 6. When the slides have been moved to.--the extended position, the carton may be lowered over the bottles to allow carton separators 36 to enter between the bottles. When the carton has been lowered: over the bottles,..a switch actuator 37 (Fig- 7) .is engaged by the carton, and the carton and bottles are discharged by the operation of a discharge or unloader mechanism 38 illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The unloader mechanism includes a shaft 39 on which are'mounted unloader arms 41 and.42. As shown in Figs. -68'inclusive, the unloader arms 42 engage one side of the carton while the unloader arms 41 underlie the rows of bottles in-t.he carton to hold the bottles inplace inside the carton as the carton is turned-to. unright-position and unloaded from the machine. The unloader arms swing ISO-dc grees with'their shaft from the position shown in Fig". 6 through the position shown inFig. 7 and-the position shown in Fig. 8. When the unloader reaches 'the po'sition shown in Fig. 8, the carton is caught'by carton lowering arms 43 whichlower the carton onto a'discharge conveyor 44 which removes the loaded carton 'from' the machine. A shock absorber :45 restrainsthe carton lowering arms so that the carton --islowered easily onto 3 the discharge conveyor. As the carton is being unloaded, the bottle slides return to the retracted position and the bottle stop members are drawn down out of the Way of the bottles so that the slides can fill up ready for the next carton. i

The machine is shown in use for loading bottles in a carton, but the machine can be used for loading other types of containers, such as tin cans or the like.

The machine which has been described in general terms to this point will now be discussed in greater detail.

The bottle slides As shown in Fig. 2, there are three sliding members or slides in each row of slides, the slide nearest the feed conveyor 26 being numbered 20, the intermediate slide being numbered 21 and the slide nearest the unloader mechanism being numbered 22. The slides are mounted in and reciprocate back and forth on top of the slide supporting bars 19. Since the slides of each row are similar in construction, only the slides in one row will be described in detail.

The operation of the slides is best shown in Figs. 3

and 4. As shown, slide 20 is attached to blocks 46 and 47. Slide 21 is attached to blocks 48 and 49, and slide 22 is attached to blocks 51 and 52. As shown in Fig. 2, the blocks slide between the slide-supporting bars 19, and the slides are wider than the blocks and rest on the members 19. A rod 54 extends through the blocks, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and actuates the slides. One end of the rod 54 is welded to block 52. The rest of the blocks are slidably mounted on the rod 54. Collars or rings 56, 57, and 58 are mounted on the rod 54 and held in place thereon by set screws 59.

The rod 54 is reciprocated by an elongated crank 61. The crank carries a head member 62 which is adjustably attached to the upper end thereof. A rounded upper or tip portion 62a of the head member is received between collars 56 and 57. When the crank 61 is swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the slides are moved to extended position. Slide 22 moves with the rod 54. Collar 56 engages block 49 to move the slide 21 a shorter distance than slide 22. Collar 58 engages block 47 to move slide 20 a still shorter distance, so that the slides are separated and bottles on each slide are separated from the bottles on the other sides and from the bottles on the entry table. When the crank 61 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 3, slide 22 moves to the right with the rod 54 and pushes the other slides to the right to the retracted position shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, a crank 61 is provided for each row of slides. The cranks 61 are attached to a shaft 63 which is pivotally mounted on the framework of the machine. The shaft 63 is swung by a main crank 64 which is also attached to the shaft 63. The main crank 64 is actuated by a reciprocating bar 66. A yoke 67 (Fig. 2) attached to the bar 66 connects the main crank 64 to the bar 66 so that, when the bar 66 is reciprocated, the main crank 64, the shaft 63, and the cranks 61 are swung therewith. The reciprocating bar 66 is rocked back and forth by a cam 68. The carn 68 is mounted on and turns with a cam shaft 69. The cam engages a cam follower 71 which is attached to the bar 66 and is actuated by the cam 68 so that, when the cam is turned, the bar 66 is reciprocated.

The cam shaft is driven by a motor 73 (Fig. l). The motor 73 drives a chain 74. The chain 74, in turn, drives reduction gearing (not shown in detail) in a gear box 76. The reduction gearing in the box 76 drives a second chain 77 which drives a sprocket gear 78 mounted on the cam shaft.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the intermediate slides 21 is of generally inverted T-shape and includes a horizontal plate portion 81 and an upright portion 82. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the slides 20 similarly includes a horizontal plate portion 83 and an upright portion 84. One end of the upright portion is cut away to form a slot 85 which can ride over the upper end of stop 33 when the slides are in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 3. The plate portion 83 is provided with a half circular slot 86 which fits around out of the stops. Each of the slides 22 (Fig. 4) includes a horizontal plate portion 87, an upright portion 88, and bottle-arresting flanges 89 and 91 (Figs. 2 and 9). The flanges 89 and 91 may be integral with the plate portion 87 and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, are spaced from the upright portion so that, if desired, the flanges can be bent toward or away from the bottles to adjust the position at which the bottles rest on the slides.

When the slides are in retractedposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the flat, horizontal plate portions of the slides are aligned with the entry table 27, and, when the stops 33 are drawn down, as shown in Fig. 8, the bottles can advance onto the slides. As shown inFig. 1, each bottle is supported on parts of the horizontal plate portions of two adjacentrows of slides, and there is a space or slot 93 (Fig. 5) below the central portion of each bottle.

The carton unloading mechanism When the bottles are moved onto the slides and the slides have been moved to extended position, the carton 29 (Fig. 6) is brought down over the tops of the bottles. Then the case and bottles are inverted, as indicated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, by means of the unloading mechanism 38. i

The unloading mechanism 38 includes the shaft 39 which is rotatably mounted on the framework of the machine in bearings 97, 9 8, and 99 (Fig. .1). The shaft is driven by an electric motor 101. The motor '101 drives a shaft 102 which extends through a brake 103 to a gear box 104. The gear box 104 contains appropriate reduction gearing (not shown in detail) which drives a shaft 106. A sprocket wheel 107 on shaft 106 drives a chain 109. Chain 109 drives a sprocket wheel 112 mounted on the unloader shaft 39.

The unloading mechanism further includes the unloader arms 41 and 42, which are mounted on the shaft 39 as already pointed out and as shown in Fig. 7,arms 41 are adapted to underlie the bottles in the carton, and arms 42 are adapted to engage one side of the carton. As shown in Fig. 1, arm units 113, 114, 116, and 118 are mounted on theshaft 39. There is one arm unit for each row of bottles. The arm units swing with the shaft 39 through the slots between the rows of slides. Arm units 114 and 116 eachinclude two arms 41, which extend in opposite directions from the shaft. Arm units 113 and 118 each consist of two arms 41 and two arms 42. The arms of the arm units 113 and 118 are disposed at 90 degree angles to each other. As shown in Fig. 5, the arms 41 are adapted to underlie the bottles on the slides. The arms 42 engage one side of the carton 29 to support the carton as it is turned as shown in Figs. 6-8 inclusive. The arms 41 engage the bottoms of the bottles as the unloader mechanism swings counter-clockwise, as shown in Figs. 6-8 inclusive.

As the case unloading mechanism approaches the position shown in Fig. 8, the carton is transferred from the unloader arms 41 and 42 to the carton lowering arms 43. As shown in Figs. 6, 8, and'l2, the carton lowering arms are mounted on a shaft 118a which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine near the'bottom thereof and extend upwardly on opposite sides of the unloader arms 41 and 42. As shown in Fig. 12, the upper portion of each of the carton lowering arms 43 is of angle shape and includes a'flange 118b for underlying the carton and a flange 1180 for engaging one side of the carton. The upper portion of each of the carton lowering arms 43 terminates in a shoulder 118d which extends at right angles to the flanges of the upper portion and can engage another side of the carton,'as shown in Fig. 8. A'lever arm 118e is also mounted ,on the shaft 118a. A tension spring1-18f is'connected' to the lever arm 118eand urges the carton lowering arms 43 to the raised position shown in Fig. 6 where the arms 43 engage stops 118g.

As shown in Fig. 8, the lever arm 118a is linked by a link 118): to a crank 118i. The crank 118i is attached to the shock absorber 45, which maynhean hydraulic shock absorber and restrains the descentof the carton lowering arms and the carton-so that the cartonis .deposited on the conveyor 44 with aminimum shock. r When the case unloading'mechanism reaches the position shown in full lineslin Fig. 8, ,-the case. unloader arms 43 receive the carton and lower the carton to the position shown in dot-dash lines in which the arms 43 are on opposite sides of a conveyor belt 118m.

As shown in Fig. 8, the conveyorbelt 118m carries thecase upwardly and to the left away from the ma.- chine until the carton is removed from the .arms .43, whereupon, the spring 118f restores the arms 43 to. the raised position of Fig. 6. 1 I, j I

The conveyor'belt 118m runs on, rollers 118n and 118p, which are mounted on a conveyor frameworkllSq. An appropriate motor ,118r drives the discharge conveyor. The discharge carriage may beoperated continuously to draw discharged cartons upwardlyand away from the machine.

As the carton is discharged, the bottle slides are returned to the right 'as shown inFig. 8, ready to be loaded'again. I

""Theunloader swings 180 degrees to dischargeone case. When the unloader has swung 180 degrees, the shaft 102 is engaged by the'brake' 103 to limit swinging. of the unloader; 'As'shown in Fig.- 10, the brake includes brake shoes 119 and 119a which can grip the shaft 102. A'compr ession spring119b' urges the brake shoes into gripping position. As shown, the spring 11% ismounted on a rod 119c-which is attached to a flange 119a, on the brake shoe 119. The rod 119cextends through an opening in-a flange 119e' attached to the brake shoe 119a. The brake is released by action ofa solenoid 119i. The solenoid 119i operates a crank or lever' 119g which is .pivotally attached to the rod 1190. When the solenoid is actuated, the lever 119g is swung counter-clockwise to separate the brake shoes andrelease the brake.

The bottl' stops During separation of the slides and during a portion of the unloading cycle 'of the machine, the bottles on the feed conveyor 26 and the entry table 27 are. held baekby the stop members 33. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper ends of the stop members 33, extend through slots 121 in the entry table and openings 122 in a plate 123 attached to the underside of the entry table.

The stop members are elongated substantially vertical' rods. Lower ends of thestop members are pivotal- Iy connected to actuating cranks 126 (Fig. 6). The cranks 126 are attached to a shaft 127, which is pivotallyn'lounted on the framework of the machine. .A tension. spring 128 attached to the framework of the machine and ;to a crank 129 urges the stopmembers to raised position. When thestops are raisedfto the proper height, the crank 129 may engage a hold-down member 130 which limits the height to which the bottle stop members can be raised bythe spring 128. 'The'bottle stop members are drawn down by a solenoid 132. The solenoid is connected, to a crank 133 (Fig. l) which 'is attached to the shaft 127. Whenthe solenoid 132 is energi zed, the stops are drawn downwardly-to permit bottles to adyance ontothe slides. n

Electrical connections lAsshown 'in the cam shaft 69 carries switch operating cams 136, 137, and 138, Thesecamsoperr.

ate switches 138, 141, @8142; respectivelyr- A's shown in Fig. 1, the unloader shaft39 carries switch operating cams 144, 146 and 147. These cams operate switches 148, 149, and 151, respectively. These switches 3nd 'cartonoperated' switches 152 and 153control operation of the motors which drive the machine. Electrical'con nections are shown in detail in Fig. 11. In the"dr'awing,'the cam surfaces of the cams are exaggerated for clarity of disclosure. The cams; may beheld infplace by appropriate set screws, or the like (notshownfi f Power is supplied through power lines 155, 156, nd 157.1 Power'supply may be a three-phase power supplyjand the motors may be three-phase motors. Power from the power lines passes through a main switch"15 8 to magnetic: switches 159, 161, and 162. Theswi'tch 159 controls the case unloader and the brake 103." The switch 161 controls, the motor on the cam shaft. The switch 162 controls the solenoid 132 which actuates the bottlestop. 5 1 T The switch 159-includes four movable switch elements 163, 164, 166, and 167, which open and'close together. A spring 159a urges the switch elements to open position; Closing of elements 164, 166 and 167 connects power leads a, 156a, and 157a to leads 155b, 156b, and 157b, respectively, which supply power to the case unloader motor and to'the motor brake. The contacts of the switch 159 are closed by operation of an electro magnet 168; One side of the magnet coil is connected to power lead 156a by a lead 169. The other side of the magnet coil is connected to a lead 171'. Lead 171 is connected to a switch contact 163a. In addition, lead 171'is'co'i 1 nected to one contact 172 of a normally open micro switch 153; The other contact of switch 153 is connected by means of a lead 174 to the power lead l57a i The micro switch 153 is actuated by theswitch actuatorj37, and when switch actuator 37 is engaged by a carton-"(see Fig; 7) the switch 153 is closed and magnet 168 is energi'zedto close contacts of magnetic switch "159 and start the case unloader motor and release them'otor', brake.

During operation of the case unloader motor, the contacts of the magnetic switch 159 remain closed, and are held closed by magnet 168. Once the contacts'of the switch 159 have closed, power is supplied tomagne't 168 bya circuit from power lead 156a through lead' 'l69, magnet coil 168, lead 171, contacts 163a and 163,a' lead 176, the contacts ofnorm'ally closed switch 149, the em; tacts of normally closed switch 148, and a lead 178fto power line 157a. When the shaft 39 of the case unloader has turned 180 degrees, either cam 146 opens switch 149, or cam 144 opens switch 148 to open the circuit to magnet 168 permitting the contacts of switch 159 to open, whereupon the case unloader motor is stopped and the motor brake is released to engage the drive shaft 102 (Fig; .1) and stop the turning of the case unloader. Cams 1 44 and 146 are separately mounted on shaft '39 and canine individually adjusted to assure stopping of the case unloader at the proper positions' 3' The switch 161 controls the motor 73 which drives the cam shaft 69. Switch 161 includes four movable switch elements 181, 182, 183, and 184-, which open and close together. A spring 161a urges the'switch elements to open position. Closing of switch elements 182, 183 and 184 connects power leads 155e, 156s, and 1570 to leads 155d, 156d, and 157a, respectively, which supply power to the motor that drives the cam shaft. The switch'161 is actuated by an electromagnet 186. One side of the coil of the magnet 186 is connected to power lead 156C. The other side of the coil of magnet 186 is connected to a lead 188. The lead 188 is connected to one contact of the normally open switch 139. The other contact of switch 139 is connected by lead 191 to one contact of normally open micro switch 152. The other contact of switch 152 is connected to power lead 15 70 th'rougha lead 193. The micro switch 152 is actuated by switch. actuator 31. When a carton is brought against 7 switch actuator 31 to close switch 152, while switch 139 is closed, the magnet 186 is energized to close the con tacts of magnetic switch 161 and start the cam motor to draw the slides to extended position.

During operation of the motor which drives the cam shaft, the contacts of magnetic switch 161 remain closed and are held closed by magnet 186. Once the contacts of the switch 161 have closed, power is supplied to the magnet186 by a circuit from power lead 156a through a lead 194, magnet coil 186, lead 188, the contacts of 181a .and 181, and the contacts of normally closed switch 141 to the power lead 1570. When the cam shaft has turned l80 degrees to open the slides fully, one of the raised surfaces of the earn 137 opens the switch 141 to deenergize the magnet 186 and allow the contacts of the switch 161 to open and stop the cam motor.

By the time the slides reach fully open position, the carton may have been brought down over the bottles or may have reached the position shown in Fig. 7 in which switch actuator 31 is no longer engaged. However, the switch 152, which is actuated by actuator 31, is connected in series with the contacts of switch 139, as already pointed out, and the cam 136, associated with switch 139, permits the switch 139 to open just before the cam 137 opens switch 141 so that, even if switch 152 is held closed, the cam operating motor is stopped when the slides are fully open by operation of cam 137 and switch 141.

When the case unloader has swung approximately 45 degrees from its initial position to that shown in Fig. 7, the slides start moving back toward the right or retracted position. When the case unloader reaches the position shown in Fig. 7, switch 151 is closed by earn 147. When the switch 151 is closed, the magnet 186 is energized by a circuit from power lead 1560 through the lead 194, the magnet coil 186, lead 188, a lead 196, the contacts of switch 151, and a lead 197, to power. lead 157a. The motor which drives the cam shaft operates until the slides are returned to retracted position, whereupon one of the raised portons of cam 137 opens switch 141 to stop the cam driving motor.

The switch 162 controls the solenoid which operates the bottle stop. The switch 162 includes two movable switch elements 199 and 201 which open and close together. A spring 162a urges the switch. elements to open position. Closing of the switch elements 199 and 201 connects power leads 155e and 156a to leads 155 and 156], respectively, which supply power to the solenoid which operates the bottle stops. The switch 162 is actuated by an electromagnet 202. One side of the coil of magnet 202 is connected to the power lead 156e. The other side of the coil of the magnet 202 is connected to a lead 203. Lead 203 is connected to one contact of a normally open switch 142. The other contact of the switch 142 is connected through a lead 204 to the power lead 155e. The cam 138 is arranged to permit the-switch 142 to open when the cam motor is started to move the slides from retracted to extend position, and permit the bottle stops to remain raised tohold back bottles on the feed conveyor until the carton has been partly unloaded. Then, as the bottle slides return toward retracted position, the'switch 142 is closed again so that the bottle stops are drawn down out of the way of the bottles and the bottle slides can fill up again.

Operation The overall operation of the machine is as follows: When a carton 29 is placed above bottles on the slides in the position shown in Fig. 6, the switch operator 31 is engaged to close the contacts of switch 152 (Fig. 11) and to energize the magnet 186 of the magnetic switch 161 to start operation of the drive for the cam shaft 69. Turning of the cam shaft 69 (Fig. 11) causes open ing of the contacts of switch 142, which de-energizes the magnet 202 of switch 162 to de-energize the solenoid of'the smuesmp so that the stop members 33 rise from the Fig. 8 position to the Fig. 6 position. The cam shaft is turned sufficiently to move the slides 20, 21 and 22 from the position shown in Fig. 8 in which the bottles are close together to that shown in Fig. 6 in which the bottles on the slides are spaced. Then the carton 29 is lowered over the bottles and engages the switch actuator 37. The switch actuator 37 closes the contacts of switch 153 (Fig. 11) to energize the magnet 168 and close the contacts of the switch 159 to start the case unloader motor and release the motor brake. The unloader arms 41 and 42 swing from the position shown in Fig. 6 through the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, to invert the carton and the bottles therein. The carton lowering arms 43 catch the carton and lower it onto the discharge conveyor 44 which removes the loaded carton. When the case unloading shaft 39 has swung approximately 45 from its initial position to that shown in Fig. 7, switch 151 (Fig. 11) is closed by cam 147 to energize the magnet 186 again and start operation of the cam shaft to return the slides from the Fig. 7 position to the Fig. 8 position. When the slides have returned to their Fig. 8 position, the switch 142 (Fig. 11) is closed to energize the magnet 202 of the magnetic switch 162 and energize the solenoid of the bottle stop so that the bottle stop members 33 (Fig. 8) are lowered to permit bottles to move onto the slides ready for the next operation.

Conclusion The machine of this invention has been illustrated in use for loading bottles of the type used for tomato catchup, or the like, in a carton. However, the machine may readily be modified to handle bottles of other sizes or shapes or other types of containers, such as tin cans, or the like.

The machine separates the containers from each other and from containers on the feed conveyor, so that there is ample room between the containers for receiving the separators of the carton. Then the loaded carton is inverted and discharged from the machine in upright position.

The machine illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, a plurality of horizontally reciprocating cradles aligned with the feed conveyor and arranged to receive containers from the feed conveyor, switch means above the cradles and engageable by a carton disposed above the containers on the cradles, stop means for arresting advance of containers on the feed conveyor, means controlled by said switch means for disposing the stop means in container-stopping position when the carton engages said switch means, means controlled by said switch means for moving the cradles away from the stop means to space the containers sufficiently to permit the partitions of the carton to pass between the containers when the carton is lowered over the containers on the cradles, a second switch means engageable by the carton when the carton is lowered over the containers, means for engaging the undersides of the containers, and means controlled by the second switch means for advancing the container engaging means in a direction to engage the containers and invert the carton while the containers are held thereon.

2. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, a plurality of reciprocating cradles aligned with the feed conveyor, an entry table between the feed conveyor and the cradles, the containers passing from the feed conveyor over the entry table onto the cradles, switch means above the cradles and engageable by acarton disposed above containers on the cradles, stops mounted in'therentry table forreciprocating between a lowered released position in which the stops are flush with the entry table and a raised operative position in which the stopsare raised above the entry table and arrest the advance of the containers on the feed conveyor, means controlled by the switch means for disposing the stops inoperative position, when the carton engages said switch means, means controlled by said switch m eans fo l' v advancing the cradles in a direction away from the feed conveyor to vspace the containers sufliciently' to permit thepartitions of the carton to pass between the containers when the carton is brought down over the containers, and means for engaging the undersides of the containers when the carton has been brought down over the containers .to hold the containers in the carton andfor inverting thecarton whilethe containers areheld therein; 1

3. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion 1 between containers which comprises ,a feed conveyor, a plurality of reciprocating cradles aligned with the feed conveyor and arranged to receive containers from the feed conveyor, the cradles being arranged in a pair of rows, there being a space between the rows, each of said cradles having a substantially horizontal flange for underlying a portion of a container disposed between the rows, switch means above the cr'atiles and 'engageable by a carton disposed above the containers on the cradles,means controlled by said switch means for arresting advance of the containers on the feed conveyor when the carton engages said switch means, means controlled by said switch means for advancing the cradles in a' direction away from the feed conveyor to space the containers sufiiciently to permit the partitions of the carton to pass between the containers when the carton is brought down over the containers, and means for engaging the undersides of the containers when the carton has been brought down over the containers to hold the containers in the carton and for inverting the carton while the containers are held therein.

4. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, a plurality of horizontally reciprocating cradles aligned with the feed conveyor and arranged to receive containers from the feed conveyor, switch means above the cradles and engageable by a carton disposed above the containers on the cradles, stop means for arresting advance of containers on the feed conveyor, means controlled by said switch means for disposing the stop means in container-stopping position when the carton engages said switch means, means controlled by said switch means for moving the cradles away from the stop means to space the containers sufiiciently to permit the partitions of the carton to pass between the containers when the carton is lowered over the containers on the cradles, and means for engaging the undersides of the containers when the carton has been brought down over the containers to hold the containers in the carton and for inverting the carton while the containers are held therein.

5. In a machine for loading containers in a carton, a device for unloading the carton from the machine which comprises a rotatably mounted shaft, an arm member mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, said arm member being adapted to engage the undersides of containers in the carton with the carton thereover to raise and turn the containers and the carton, means mounted on the shaft for engaging one side of the carton as the carton is raised and turned to hold the carton with the containers on the arm, a pair of pivotally mounted carton-catching arms mounted on opposite sides of the container-engaging arm and arranged to engage the carton when the carton has been turned 90 degrees, and a discharge conveyor adjacent and below said carton-catching arms, the carton- 3.10 catching arms lowering the carton onto thedischarge conveyor.

6. In a machine for loading containers in a carton, a device forunloading the carton from the machine, which comprises a rotatably mounted shaft, arm members mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, one of the arm members being adapted to engage the undersides of containers in the carton to raise and turn the containers and carton, another of the arms being adapted to engageone side of the carton as the carton is raised and turned to hold the carton with the containers on the firstmentioned arm, a pair of carton-catching arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the arm rnembers' andarranged to engage the carton when the carton has been turned degrees and starts to descend, a conveyoradjacent and between said carton-catching arms, and shock absorber means for restraining the descent of the carton-catching arms and the carton, the carton-catching-arms lowering the carton onto the conveyor. i

7. In a machine for loading containers in a carton, a device for unloading the carton from the 'rnachinewhicli comprises a rotatably mounted shaft, arm members mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, one of the arm members being adapted to engage the undersides of containers in the carton with the carton thereoverto raise and turn the carton to upright position, another arm merit ber being adapted to engage one side of the carton as the carton is raised and turned 'to hold the carton with the containers on the first mentioned arm, a pair of pivotally mounted carton-catching arms mounted on opposite sides of the arm members and arranged to receive and engage the carton when the carton has been turned degrees, resilient means for urging the carton-catching arms to a position adjacent the shaft, a conveyor adjacent and between the carton-catching arms and below the shaft, the carton-catching arms lowering the carton onto the conveyor, the conveyor withdrawing the carton from the carton-catching arms, the resilient means restoring the carton-catching arms to the position adjacent the shaft when the carton has been withdrawn therefrom by the conveyor.

8. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, a framework, a plurality of reciprocating cradles mounted on the framework and aligned with the feed conveyor and arranged to receive containers from the feed conveyor, the cradles being ar ranged in two spaced rows, each of said cradles having a flange adapted to underlie a portion of the underside of a container between the rows of cradles, means for arrest; ing advance of the containers on the feed conveyor, means for advancing the cradles in a direction away from the feed conveyor to space the containers sufficiently to permit the partitions to pass between the containers when the carton is brought down over the containers, a shaft rotatably mounted on the framework remote from the feed conveyor, an arm member mounted on said shaft and arranged to swing upwardly through the space between the rows of cradles to engage the containers on the cradle to raise and turn the carton and the containers therein, means mounted on the shaft for engaging one side of the carton as the carton is raised and turned to hold the carton with the containers on the arm member, a pair of carton-catching arms pivotally mounted on the framework on opposite sides of the arm member and arranged to receive and engage the carton when the carton has been turned 90 degrees, and a discharge conveyor adjacent and between the carton-catching arms and below the shaft, the carton-catching arms lowering the carton onto the discharge conveyor.

9. A machine for loading containers in a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, a plurality of reciprocating cradles aligned with the feed conveyor and arranged to receive conveyors from the feed conveyor, switch means above the-cradles and engageable by a carton disposed above containers on the cradles, stop means for arresting advance'ot containers on 'the feed conveyor, means controlled by said switch means for disposing the stop means in container-stopping position when the carton engages said switch means, means controlled by said switch means for moving the cradles away from the stop means to space the containers sufiiciently to permit the partitions of the carton to pass between the containers when-the carton is lowered over the containers on the cradles, a second switch means engageable by the carton when the carton is lowered, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent the cradles, means controlled by said second switch means for turning the shaft substantially 180 degrees when the carton is lowered, an arm member mounted on said shaft to. turn therewith, said arm member being adapted to engage the 'undersides of containers in the carton to raise the containers from the cradles and turn the carton and the containers, means on the shaft for engaging one side of the carton to hold the carton with the containers on saidarm member, a pair of carton-catching arms pivotally mounted below the shaft on opposite sides of the arm member, said carton-catching arms being arranged to engage the carton when the carton has been turned 90 degrees, a discharge conveyor adjacent and between said c arton-catchinganns and below the shaft, and means restraining descent of the carton-catching arms, the carton-catching arms lowering the carton onto the discharge conveyor.

1-0. A machine for loading containers in'a carton having partitions for insertion between containers which comprises a feed conveyor, container separating means for receiving containers from the feed conveyor, switch means adjacent the container separating means and engageable by a carton disposed opposite the containers on the container separating means, stop means for-arresting advance of containers on the feed conveyor, means controlled by said switch means for disposing the stop means in container stopping position when the-carton engages said switch means,.means controlled by said switch means for causing the container separating means to space the containers sufliciently to permit the partitions of the carton to pass between the containers when'the carton is advanced over the containers on the container separating means, a second switch means engageable by a carton when the. cartontis advanced over the containers, means for engaging the undersides of the containers, and means controlled by the second switch means for advancing the container engaging means ina direction to engage the containers and invert the carton while the containers are held thereon.

' ReferencesjCited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 

